Groundwater risk assessment based on optimization framework using DRASTIC method

Due to anthropogenic influences and large amounts of pollutant released into the groundwater, it is vital to investigate groundwater quality and to characterize susceptible areas to contamination. In this paper, a new optimization-based methodology is proposed for determining groundwater risk using DRASTIC model based on genetic algorithm optimization model and Wilcoxon test. The correlation coefficient between DRASTIC/modified DRASTIC indices and nitrate concentrations in monitoring wells is used as a criteria for evaluating the efficiency of the proposed models. In this regard, because of the unsatisfactory original DRASTIC’s result, sensitivity analysis, genetic algorithm (GA), and Wilcoxon test (1945) are carried out to tackle the subjectivity associated with the original DRASTIC model and obtain better and reliable results. The results indicate that application of Wilcoxon test and GA optimization outperforms the others. Consequently, the correlation coefficient increased remarkably as compared to the original DRASTIC model (from 0.57 to 0.82). The proposed optimization process is adaptable to be applied in different case studies; mainly since it has the ability to optimize the weights of the model based on hydrogeological characteristics of the aquifer. Finally, the risk maps of the models are prepared using ArcGIS® to determine the most vulnerable areas.

[1]  K. Pazand,et al.  Hydrogeochemical investigation in an arid region of Iran (Tabas, Central Iran) , 2013, Environmental Earth Sciences.

[2]  Takahiro Hosono,et al.  DRASTIC-GIS model for assessing vulnerability to pollution of the phreatic aquiferous formations in Douala-Cameroon , 2015 .

[3]  A. Gorai,et al.  Approaches to Groundwater Vulnerability to Pollution: A Literature Review , 2012 .

[4]  L. S. Sanches Fernandes,et al.  Factor weighting in DRASTIC modeling. , 2015, The Science of the total environment.

[5]  A. Dassargues,et al.  Current trends and future challenges in groundwater vulnerability assessment using overlay and index methods , 2000 .

[6]  F. Wilcoxon.  Individual Comparisons by Ranking Methods , 1945 .

[7]  Erhan Şener,et al.  Assessment of groundwater vulnerability based on a modified DRASTIC model, GIS and an analytic hierarchy process (AHP) method: the case of Egirdir Lake basin (Isparta, Turkey) , 2012, Hydrogeology Journal.

[8]  N. Lambrakis,et al.  Optimization of the DRASTIC method for groundwater vulnerability assessment via the use of simple statistical methods and GIS , 2006 .

[9]  Se-Yeong Hamm,et al.  Assessment of the potential for groundwater contamination using the DRASTIC/EGIS technique, Cheongju area, South Korea , 1999 .

[10]  Yu-Shu Wu,et al.  A three-dimensional multiphase flow model for assessing NAPL contamination in porous and fractured media, 2. Porous medium simulation examples , 1994 .

[11]  M. Chitsazan,et al.  A GIS-based DRASTIC Model for Assessing Aquifer Vulnerability in Kherran Plain, Khuzestan, Iran , 2009 .

[12]  Mohammad Vaghefi,et al.  Forecasting Groundwater Level in Shiraz Plain Using Artificial Neural Networks , 2012 .

[13]  E. Frind,et al.  Well Vulnerability: A Quantitative Approach for Source Water Protection , 2006, Ground water.

[14]  J. Merchant.  GIS-based groundwater pollution hazard assessment: a critical review of the DRASTIC model , 1994 .

[15]  C. Mclay,et al.  Predicting groundwater nitrate concentrations in a region of mixed agricultural land use: a comparison of three approaches. , 2001, Environmental pollution.

[16]  H. Baalousha.  Vulnerability assessment for the Gaza Strip, Palestine using DRASTIC , 2006 .

[17]  P. K. Sikdar,et al.  Assessing aquifer vulnerability to arsenic pollution using DRASTIC and GIS of North Bengal Plain: A case study of English Bazar Block, Malda District, West Bengal, India , 2007 .

[18]  Biswajeet Pradhan,et al.  Groundwater vulnerability assessment using an improved DRASTIC method in GIS , 2014 .

[19]  Hamed Assaf,et al.  Geostatistical Assessment of Groundwater Nitrate Contamination with Reflection on DRASTIC Vulnerability Assessment: The Case of the Upper Litani Basin, Lebanon , 2009 .

[20]  Weldon A. Lodwick,et al.  Attribute error and sensitivity analysis of map operations in geographical informations systems: suitability analysis , 1990, Int. J. Geogr. Inf. Sci..

[21]  Yanguo Teng,et al.  Assessment and validation of groundwater vulnerability to nitrate based on a modified DRASTIC model: a case study in Jilin City of northeast China. , 2012, The Science of the total environment.

[22]  B. Pradhan,et al.  An integrated DRASTIC model using frequency ratio and two new hybrid methods for groundwater vulnerability assessment , 2015, Natural Hazards.

[23]  K. Ebrahimi,et al.  Groundwater vulnerability assessment in agricultural areas using a modified DRASTIC model , 2015, Environmental Monitoring and Assessment.

[24]  Yousef Nazzal,et al.  Hydrogeological vulnerability and pollution risk mapping of the Saq and overlying aquifers using the DRASTIC model and GIS techniques, NW Saudi Arabia , 2015, Environmental Earth Sciences.

[25]  Peiyue Li,et al.  Assessment of groundwater vulnerability in the Yinchuan Plain, Northwest China using OREADIC , 2012, Environmental Monitoring and Assessment.

[26]  Anat Thapinta,et al.  Use of geographic information systems for assessing groundwater pollution potential by pesticides in Central Thailand. , 2003, Environment international.

[27]  Liping Bai,et al.  Application of DRASTIC and extension theory in the groundwater vulnerability evaluation , 2012 .

[28]  Konstantinos Voudouris,et al.  Groundwater vulnerability and pollution risk assessment of porous aquifers to nitrate: Modifying the DRASTIC method using quantitative parameters , 2015 .

[29]  Barnali M. Dixon,et al.  Optimization of DRASTIC method by supervised committee machine artificial intelligence to assess groundwater vulnerability for Maragheh–Bonab plain aquifer, Iran , 2013 .

[30]  J. Arnold,et al.  An Aquifer Vulnerability Assessment of the Paluxy Aquifer, Central Texas, USA, Using GIS and a Modified DRASTIC Approach , 2000, Environmental management.

[31]  Asghar Asghari Moghaddam,et al.  A supervised committee machine artificial intelligent for improving DRASTIC method to assess groundwater contamination risk: a case study from Tabriz plain aquifer, Iran , 2016, Stochastic Environmental Research and Risk Assessment.

[32]  Tetsuya Hiyama,et al.  A GIS-based DRASTIC model for assessing aquifer vulnerability in Kakamigahara Heights, Gifu Prefecture, central Japan. , 2005, The Science of the total environment.

[33]  J. Vrba,et al.  Guidebook on Mapping Groundwater Vulnerability , 1994 .

[34]  A. Dassargues,et al.  Comparison of aquifer vulnerability assessment techniques. Application to the Néblon river basin (Belgium) , 2003 .

[35]  C. Cosenza,et al.  Groundwater vulnerability and risk mapping using GIS, modeling and a fuzzy logic tool. , 2007, Journal of contaminant hydrology.

[36]  Ventura River Reaches.  Environmental Protection Agency Environmental Protection Agency Environmental Protection Agency Environmental Protection Agency Environmental Protection Agency , 2012 .

[37]  Atiqur Rahman,et al.  A GIS based DRASTIC model for assessing groundwater vulnerability in shallow aquifer in Aligarh, India , 2008 .

[38]  S. Bouri,et al.  Groundwater vulnerability and risk mapping of the Hajeb-jelma aquifer (Central Tunisia) using a GIS-based DRASTIC model , 2010 .

[39]  H. Qian,et al.  A modified DRASTIC model for assessing contamination risk of groundwater in the northern suburb of Yinchuan, China , 2016, Environmental Earth Sciences.

[40]  L. Aller,et al.  Drastic: A Standardized System to Evaluate Groundwater Pollution Potential using Hydrogeologic Setting , 1987 .

[41]  M G Rupert,et al.  Calibration of the DRASTIC Ground Water Vulnerability Mapping Method , 2001, Ground water.

[42]  Abdorreza Vaezihir,et al.  Total vulnerability estimation for the Tabriz aquifer (Iran) by combining a new model with DRASTIC , 2015, Environmental Earth Sciences.

[43]  Lars Rosén,et al.  A Study of the DRASTIC Methodology with Emphasis on Swedish Conditions , 1994 .

[44]  Jack Barbash,et al.  Pesticides in ground water: distribution, trends, and governing factors. , 1996 .

[45]  A. Fabbri,et al.  Single-parameter sensitivity analysis for aquifer vulnerability assessment using DRASTIC and SINTACS , 2009 .